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The Weekly Sip is Food Dive’s column focused on breaking news in the fast-changing and growing beverage sector. From first product lines to big investments and controversial topics, this column aims to quench your thirst for developments in the category.
Beyoncé Enters the Mainstream Market with Moët Hennessy
Beyoncé has teamed up with a major premium spirits company to create a whiskey that draws on a little-known part of her family history.
Launched in partnership with LVMH subsidiary Moët Hennessy, SirDavis is the star’s new whisky offering. According to a press release: Beyonce A fan of Japanese whiskey, she wanted to create her own product.
The brand names are: Beyonce's great-grandfather, Davis Hogg, was a bootlegger during Prohibition in the South. He hid bottles of whiskey in hollow cedar trunks for others to find.
“When I discovered that my great-grandfather was a bootlegger, my love of whiskey felt like destiny.” Beyonce “We’ve teamed up with Moët Hennessy to create a delicious American whiskey that respects tradition while allowing people to experience something new and unique in the category,” the statement said.
According to the LVMH subsidiary, the whiskey is made up of 51% rye and 49% malted barley.
The liquor giant anonymously submitted SirDavis to several liquor competitions prior to its launch. According to a press release, it won the Best American Whiskey award at the 2023 SIP Awards and a gold medal at the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition.
SirDavis is also Moët Hennessy’s first product developed entirely in the United States.
This isn’t the singer’s first foray into the beverage world. In 2022, Knowles-Carter was a lead investor in a $31 million Series A funding round for water brand Lemon Perfect.
Celebrity-linked alcohol products are a way to build celebrity empires and provide beverage producers with a built-in audience to reach. In recent years, George Clooney’s Casamigos, Ryan Reynolds’ Aviation Gin, and Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila have each found a foothold in the liquor world.
— Chris Casey
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Provided by Dunkin'
Dunkin' Introduces Pumpkin Spice.
Dunkin' is introducing its popular Spiked Iced Coffee in another hot trend: Pumpkin Spice.
The launch comes a year after the brand first launched Spiked Iced Coffees and Spiked Iced Teas in 13 states in August 2023 as variations on classic Dunkin' drinks. Since then, the products have more than doubled their retail presence to 27 states.
“As one of our most anticipated seasonal items, the Pumpkin Spice Latte has become a cozy seasonal staple for everyone,” Brian Gilbert, Dunkin’s vice president of retail business development, said in a statement. “We knew there was an opportunity to create something special by adding a grown-up twist to the beloved beverage.”
Dunkin' Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte is described as “a rich, creamy and deliciously decadent beverage with the perfect balance of sweet pumpkin, vanilla and fall spice flavors.” Dunkin' says the ready-to-drink spiked product will allow consumers to enjoy the popular fall flavor in a convenient format. Each can has an alcohol content of 6%.
According to consumer tracking data from market research firm NIQ cited by USA Today, retail spending on pumpkin products totaled $816.9 million from August 2023 to July 2024 last year. That's a 33% increase from five years ago.
Today, pumpkin spice is used in everything from donuts, coffee, and beer to creamers, cookies, and candies.
— Christopher Dohring
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Provided by Disco Disco Coffee
A new coffee brand wants to complement the adventure travel experience
Newly launched coffee startup Disco Disco is introducing a unique product that makes it easier to enjoy a cup of coffee on the go.
The coffee packets are delivered in a compartment themed after vintage cigarette packaging. Each packet contains a piece of paper that can be attached to a mug. The consumer then pours hot water to brew the coffee.
Founder Ellie Eckert, who launched the roasting company in 2018, told Food Dive that the idea for the company came from countless trips to hotels and airports, where she just wanted a good cup of coffee. She reached a breaking point on a remote trip earlier this year, frustrated by the lack of quality coffee options, and decided to order tea instead.
Eckert also found that many coffee drinkers carry expensive equipment with them wherever they go.
“They had bean bag coffee, a grinder, an arrow press and a single-serve pour-over attachment,” Eckert said.
She added that convenient, instant coffee products available on the market do not meet the quality requirements of coffee lovers.
“We really wanted to focus on making a product that didn’t compromise on taste, quality, or the coffee experience,” Eckert said.
She believes the product will appeal to coffee lovers with its portable design. The El Salvador blend contains notes of milk chocolate, dulce de leche, and pineapple.
A five-pack of Disco Disco coffee packets sells for $25 on the brand’s website. The company plans to grow its online following before expanding into boutique stores and hotels.
Eckert believes that “fourth wave coffee” – with its focus on sustainability, improved quality and contextual demand – will be driven by consumers, not just coffee shops.
“Pour-overs, instant coffees—these are the casual, convenient options that consumers are actually drinking and demanding more of,” she noted.
— Chris Casey
